Desk.



A. SPRUNG.

v DESK. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 5, 1912.

Patented June 9, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

3 woe W606 fig A. SPRUNG.

DESK.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 5, 1912.

Patented June 9, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

ABM BQR'UNG, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DESK.

Specification of Letters I'atent.

Patented June 9, 1914.

Application filed December 5, 1912. Serial No. 735,077.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Anne SPRUNG, a citizen of the United States,residing in New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and A useful Improvements in Desks, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to desks, particularly oflice desks in which itis desirable to have a pigeon hole rack connected therewith and at thesame time have a maximum amount of desk space.

In an office desk, it is desirable to have a .pigeon hole rack in whichletters and other papers may be quickly filed and are readilyaccessible. However, often it is necessary to have as much desk space aspossible and a pigeon hole rack is at such times objectionable on thedesk. Also very often a person may sit on the other side of the-desklandthe rack at that time offers an obstruction.

One object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a desk ofthe character above described which normally is flat like an ordinaryflat top desk but which may be readily converted with a slight movementof a rod or lever into a type of desk having a pigeon hole rack thereon.

Another object is to provide means which automatically raises a pigeonhole rack from the body of the desk when said means is re leased by aslight movement of a trip element actuated by the operator.

Still another object is to provide means whereby the pigeon hole rackwill rise automatically to any desired height.

In carrying out my invention, I provides chamber within the body of thedesk into which the pigeon hole rack may be depressed and the topthereof be rendered flush with the top of the desk. A shaft is provided,running substantially the length of the desk, having arms which areconnected with the bottom of the rack. A spring exerts a tension uponthe shaft-tending to raise the rack. This tension is sufficient to morethan countel-balance the weight of the rack with its contents, so thatwhen the shaft is released, the rack is automatically raised by thespring. Tripping means is provided for the rack so that the latter mayrise to any height desired by the operator. If the rack has three rowsof pigeon holes, one over the other, the rack may be raised to threedifierent heights.

Further objects and advantages will appear from the detailed descriptionand the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiments of this inventionFigure 1 is an elevation of one form of construction in which theinvention may be carried out. Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 22 andFig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is an end viewillustrating the pigeon hole rack depressed. Fig. 5 is a plan of thehollow shaft within which the spring is preferably mounted. Fig. 6 is asection taken along line 66 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 illustrates a form ofspring which is preferably used. Figs. 8 and 9 are respectivelyelevation and plan views of the actuating and tripping levers. Figs. 10,11 and 12 are respectively front, side and rear views of the fulcrumblock for the levers. Fig. 13 is a transverse vertical section of a deskprovided with a modified form of mechanism 1n which my invention may beembodied. Fig. 14 is a fragmental view illustrating anothermodification. Fig. 15 is a fragmental view on a reduced scaleillustrating still another modification.

The desk has a top 1 and the usual vertical tiers-of drawers 2 on eitherside. Arranged forwardly of the drawers is a chamber 3 in which seats apigeon hole rack 4 having a top 5. When the rack is thus seated asillustrated in Fig. 4, its top 5 is flush with the top 2 of the desk,thus forming an ordinary flat top desk.

To raise the rack into the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, Iprovide means which is tripped by the operator to automatically move therack upward. J ournaled within the chamber 3, preferably adjacent to therear wall 6 thereof, is a hollow shaft 7 having a pair of arms 8connected by links 9 to the bottom of the rack. A spring 10 is disposedwithin the shaft, one end of this spring being fastened to the shaft aswithin an aperture 11 therein, and the other end of the spring beingfastened to an adjustable member 12 held to the side wall of the chamher in any suitable manner, and adjusted by means of a key or like toolengaging a stem 13 projecting outwardly therefrom.

the shaft, tending to raise therack, which tension is sufficient to morethan counterbalance the weight of the rack together with its contents.The adjustment of the spring This spring contlnuously exerts a tensionupon to the proper tension insures that there shall always be sufficientforce in the spring to raise the rack when containing vvarious weightsof material filed therein. The key may be formed of a convenient shapeto be manipulated by the person using the deslc, so that he may readilyadjust the spring if he should desire to store very heavy matter in therack. The tripping means for releasing the shaft so as to permit it toraise the rack is as follows: A lever 14 is provided having a handle 15projecting through a slot 16 disposed preferably below the middle drawerin position to be engaged by the op erator. This lever is fulcrumed onapivot 17 formed on a fulcrum block 18 attached to the wall 6 and is heldin various positions of adjustment by the engagement of the short endthereof within notches 19 formed in the plate 20 integral with theblock. The short end of the lever is connected through a pin and slotconnection 21 to a lever 22 fulcrumed on a pivot 23 preferably formedalso on the fulcrum block 18. The lower end of this lever 22 acts as astop which may be brought into engagement with upstanding lugs 24, 25and 26 formed upon the shaft 7. These lugs are spaced from each otherboth radially and longitudinally of the shaft.

When the operator desires to raise the rack for a distance of one row ofpigeon holes, he grasps the handle 15, actuating the lever 14 andthereby the lever 22, to move the latter out of engagement with the stop24 and place it in alinement with the stop 25. As soon as the stop 24 isso released, the spring actuates the shaft to move the rack upward untilthe shaft is brought to a stop by the engagement of the lug 25 with thestop lever 22. The rack is thus raised the height of one row of pigeonholes, whereas if it is desired to raise the rack higher, the lever 22is moved into position to, engage the lug 26 or some succeeding lug by agreater movement of the lever 14.

The operator can tell when the lever is properly positioned for therequired height of rack by the snapping of the lever 14 into the notches19 of the plate 20. Other indicating means may be used if so desired. Acushioning arrangement 27 consisting of a dash pot or some such devicemay be used for preventing undue shock when the rack reaches the top ofits travel. It is desirable, preferably, that the cushioning member befastened to the inner wall 6 of the chamber 3, and that the engagingmember for the same be fastened substantially at the midlength of thearm 8. By this arrangement the cushioning means as a Whole is entirelyout of the way of any surrounding parts and performs its functionefficiently. The lever 14 may be locked in any of its adjusted positionsby a lock 28 disposed preferably within the handle This lock mayconveniently'engage the walls of the slot 16. Thus the lower row ofpigeon holes may be used for holding more valuable matter which is notoften referred, to. A bracket 29 is preferably disposed adjacent to theprojections 24, 25 and 26 to assist in supporting the shaft at the pointwhere it receives the thrust of the stop lever. When it is desired tolower the rack, the operator presses down on the top thereof to push thesame downward, the slight effort thus exerted being sufficient tocounterbalance the tension of the sprin tending to keep the rack raised.

In the orm illustrated in Fig. 13, a modified form of trip arrangementis provided consisting of a swinging arm 30 located within the chamberat each end of the rack. Each of these arms has graduated projections 31and 32 adapted to be engaged by a movable stop 33 mounted upon thedownwardly projecting side 34 of the rack. A spring 35 normally tends tohold the stop against the-arm 30. When it is desired to raise the rack,'a handle 36 is pulled bythe operator, drawing a rod 37 against thetension of a spring 38 to actuate a bar 37 connecting the arms 30 so asto swing the latter rearward and thus release the stops 33 fromprojections 31. Ifthe handle 36 is pulled a short distance, theprojection 32 will still be in position to engage the stop 33 after thelatter has been released from the project-ion 31, and the rack is thusraised to an intermediate position. If the handle 36 is pulled stillfarther, all of the projections upon each arm 30 may be withdrawn out ofalinement with the stop 33 and the rack may thus rise to its highestposition. A turned-over portion 39 is preferably formed at the upper endof the arm 30, so as to determine the extreme upward position of therack. When it is desired to lower the rack, the operator merely pressesdown on the top thereof and the stop 33 slides past the projections 32and 31, the stop being moved laterally against the tension of the spring35 through the engagement of its inclined face 40 with the inclinedfaces 42 and 41 of the stops 32 and 31 respectively.- When the middledrawer is looked, it also looks the actuating mechanism for the rackthrough a pivoted stop a having a downward projection b, engaging ashoulder a, formed on the rod 37. A spring of normally tends to raisethe projection 7) out of engagement with the shoulder a to free theactuating mechanism when the middle drawer is pulled out, whereas therear wall 6 of the middle drawer engages the pivoted stop to throw thelatter into engagement with the shoulder a when the drawer is shovedinto position to be locked.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 14, the stops 44, 45 and 46 areformed in the same plane upon the shaft and are of graduated heights. Apivoted stop 47 is located in position to engage said stops 44, 45 and46 and is actuated by suitable mechanism such as a link 48 having ahandle 49 engaged by the operator and connected to the pivoted stop by abell crank 50 and link 51. When the handle 49 is moved the properdistance the rack will rise to a position corresponding to such movementof the handle.

In the form illustrated in Fig. 15, the graduated stops 53, 54 and 55are formed upon a bar or frame 52 projecting downwardly from the rack. Amovable bolt 56 is suitably mounted to slide into position to be engagedby these stops and is held against the bar or frame by a spring 57.Suitable mechanism such as a rod 58 engaged by the operator and anysuitable lever mechanism such as a bell crank 59 and a rod 60 connectedto another bell crank 61 engaging the bolt 56 may be used for retractingthe bolt to the required position for allowing the rack to rise to thedesired height.

It will be noted that in all of these forms, the rack risesautomatically and no effort is required to be exercised by the operatorother than that required to trip the shaft so as to release the spring.Moreover, the rack can be caused to rise to any desired height merely bymoving the trip the required distance. When it is desired to lower therack, it can be done by pressing down against the top thereof withsufiicient force to counteract the tension of the spring. When thedrawers are locked, the actuating mechanism for the trip is also lockedand it will. therefore, be impossible for any unauthorized person toraise the rack. The desk as a Whole readily lends itself to aconstruction of a combined safe and desk inasmuch as it is clear thatthe pigeon holes might be readily constructed so as to form strong boxeswhich will be hidden from View and the existence of which will beunsuspected by unauthorized persons.

Owing to the easy adjustment of the actuating spring for the rack,various weights of material may be stored within the rack withoutinterfering with the proper operation of the spring in automaticallyraising the rack.

The desk as a whole may be made of metal and as thus made, it combinestogether with the other advantages of the convertible desk, theadvantages of a safe for keeping valuable records.

I have illustrated locking devices for the pigeon hole rack in certainof the embodiments of this invention. However, it-may be understood thatsimilar locking devices may be used in the other embodiments of theinvention above disclosed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new:

1. A convertible desk comprising a fiat top, a chamber formed in thebody of the desk at the forward end thereof, a rack movable within saidchamber from a position in which the top thereof is flush with the topof the desk so as to form a flat top desk to a completely raisedposition and various intermediate positions, a rotatable member havingmeans for engaging the rack to support the same, a spring connected tosaid rotatable member so as to more than counter balance the racktogether with its contents, and means located under the middle drawer ofthe desk for engagement by the operator to trip the spring so as toallow the rack to rise to variouspositions, said means comprising amovable stop and a plurality of graduated projections engaged by saidstop;

2. A convertible desk comprising a flat top, a chamber formed in thebody of the desk at the forward end thereof, a rack movable within saidchamber from a position in which the top thereof is flush with the top aof the desk so as to form a flat top desk to a completely raisedposition and various intermediate positions, a rotatable member havingmeans for engaging the rack to support the same, a spring connected tosaid rotatable member so as to more than counterbalance the racktogether with its contents, means located under the middle drawer of thedesk for engagement by the operator for tripping the spring so as toallow the rack to rise to various positions, said means comprising amovable stop and a plurality of graduated project-ions engaged by saidstop,

and means for locking the actuating means when the middle drawer is inposition to be locked.

3. A convertible desk having a flat top, a chamber formed in the body ofthe desk at} the forward end thereof, a rack movable within said chamberfrom a position in which the top thereof is flush with the top of thedesk to a raised position, a rotatable member having means for engagingthe rack, a spring for actuating the rotatable member to automaticallyraise the rack, tripping means for said rotatable member including aseries of graduated projections, and means extending exteriorly of thedesk for adjusting the tension of the spring to the varying weights ofthe rack and its contents.

Signed at New York on the 2nd day of December, 1912.

ABBE SPRUNG.

Witnesses:

HERMANN H. FRIEDER, BENJ. Dawson.

